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7 Dec. 7, 1943. J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER Filed March 23, 1940 1 v INV TOR.

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Patented Dec. 7, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER John M. Hothersall Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New'Jersey Applieation'March 23, 1940, Serial N 0. 325,625

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a double bucket unit which consists of two individual pail sections and has particular reference to an improved manner of connecting two such pail sections together so that a self-contained handle is formed whereby both of the pail sectionscan be carried as a, unit.

In a broad sense the invention relates to a double or twin pail unit, such for example, as is disclosed in the F. G. Curtis United States Patent 2,117,405, issued May 17, 1938, and the invention has principally to do with eliminating an separate or attached handle. The handle construction of the present invention besides providing a part which functions as a handle also provides a simple manner of fastening the pail sections to ether.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved construction of twin pails or double bucket pail units having two individual sections fastened together in a common contiguous Wall in which provision is made for securing the parts together and for providing a carrying handle section by means of which the two pail sections with their separate contents may be carried as a unit.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which. taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a twin pail or double bucket unit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the unit;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the contiguous connecting walls of the pail sections with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary face view of the handle section as viewed substantially along the section line 44 in Fig. 3.

The pail sections which are adapted to be used in the double bucket unit of the present invention comprise a pair of pails H of similar construction and of the same shape and size. Each pail is formed with a body l2 and a bottom l3 which may be double seamed or otherwise secured to the lower end of the body.

The pail body I2 is preferably provided with a circumferential bead l5 which is shown in the drawing as an interior bead and this bead pref rably merges into an upper exterior bead l6. The wall part above the bead I6 is slightly tapered as at I! and is more fully tapered below at l8, i. e., in

the region between the bead l5 and the bottom IS.

The upper edge of the body wal1 I2 is curled over at 2| (Fig. 3) such a curl being illustrated as of the outer or exterior curled shape. Each curl 2| extends overand tightly engages a wire rin '22 which provides a stiffening agent for the open mouth of the pail.

In assembling the unit the pail sections H are first brought into juxtaposition, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, and when in such position, the contacting parts of the wall section l2 of the pails are such as to provide close contact between the pail wall sections at this place. Contiguous walls 25 (Fig. 3) are thus formed.

These contiguous wall sections are secured together (Figs. 3 and 4) for the most part without rivets or other extra parts. An opening 26 is cut through the walls 25. A flange terminal edge 21 of one wall part is provided when the opening is made and this flange is passed through the opening 26 in the other pail section. Such a flange edge is then clinched at the bottom and sides of the opening 26. This provides a secure connection for the contiguous walls of the pail sections and at the same time provides a smooth boundary at the bottom and sides for the opening 26. It is sometimes desirable where the pails arev of larger size to further tack the contiguous Walls together near the bottom of the walls, i. e., just above the bead I 5. When this is done a single spot weld 28 may be used for these walls and this will produce a more rigid construction.

A clamp plate 3| is used to complete the as sembly, this being passed through the opening 26 and over both of the wire rings 22 and over the curled edges 2| of the two pail sections. This is at the top of the opening 25. Such a clamp plate provides a further connection between the pail sections and at the same time constitutes a hand grip for the double bucket unit.

With this construction it is merely necessary to pass the fingers of the hand through the opening 26 and to grip the clamp plate 3| in order to utilize the double bucket unit as a single carrying pail structure. Such a construction obviates the necessity of a separate handle.

This combination of parts provides an improved form of hand grip and insures better balancing of the pail sections and their contents when the unit is being carried. Such a structure is also economical to manufacture. It is very simple yet performs a dual function, namely, that of providing a secure fastening for the pails, also providing an improved handle part having a smooth boundary so that there will not be any danger of cutting the hands upon the pail unit. Being in the center of the unit it is in the most favored position for balancing the load.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described be-" ing merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: l. A double bucket unit comprising individual tubular pail members arranged in juxtaposition,

the body wall of each pail member being curled at its top edge, said members having a part of their contiguous walls cut out just beneath their curled top edges to form a common opening, a clamp plate curled in place to surround said curled top edges and extending through the said opening to provide a hand grip for carrying the two pail members as a single unit with space for the fingers in said opening, said contiguous walls being further clamped together by means of a Wall portion of one pail member extending through said opening in folded engagement with the contiguous wall portion of the juxtaposed pail member, thereby providing a smooth boundary wall for said opening.

2. A double bucket unit comprising individual tubular pail members arranged in juxtaposition, a wire ring extending around the open mouth of each of said pail members, the body wall of each pail member being curled over its said wire ring to strengthen the open top of the pail and provide a smooth mouth, said pail members having a part of their contiguous walls cut out just beneath' the said wire rings to form a common opening, a portion of a pail Wall defining said opening extending therethrough into interlocking engagement with a contiguous wall portion of the juxtaposed pail member to secure said pail members together, and a clamp plate extending in through said common opening and around said wire rings at the top of said opening to provide a hand grip for carrying the two pail members as a single unit with space for the fingers in said opening, whereby the weight of both pail members and their contents when being carried is distributed onto said hand grip.

3. A double bucket unit comprising individual tubular pail members having their side walls tapered toward the bottom and being arranged in juxtaposition with a part of the side walls above said tapered section secured together and with the adjoining lower tapered sections separated, a part of the contiguous walls of said members being cut out to form a common opening, the material in the wall of one pail member at the vbottom and sides of the said opening being clinched over the corresponding edges of the opening in the wall of the other member to effect the connection between said members, and a clamp plate clinched over the walls of the said members at the top of said opening to provide a hand grip for carrying the two pail members as a single unit with space for the fingers in said opening.

4. A double bucket unit comprising individual tubular pail members arranged in juxtaposition, the body wall of each pail member being curled at the top edge and having a circumferential bead below which the wall tapers inwardly to the bottom with parts of the adjacent walls above said bead closely fitting and engaged in a contiguous wall section, said members having a part of their contiguous walls cut out just beneath their curled top edges to form a common opening, a clamp plate curled in place to surround said curled top edges and extending through the said opening to provide a hand grip for carrying the two pail members as a single unit with space for the fingers in said opening, said contiguous walls being further clamped together to provide a smooth boundary wall for said opening, said circumferential beads strengthening the unit while supporting the weight of said pail members in their separated tapered wall sections.

JOHN M. HO'I'HERSALL. 

